Signs of Breastfeeding Well

Almost all mothers go through a period when they think they don’t have enough breast milk.

Sometimes mothers worry about this when their baby is just born. Other times it is after breastfeeding is well established. The good news is that most women have more than enough breast milk to feed their baby.

Having your baby breastfeed well and often in the first week will help you to build a healthy breast milk supply. Breastfeed your baby at least 8 times in 24 hours (day and night).

Remember breastfeeding is a learned skill for mothers and babies. It requires patience and practice. Get help right away if your baby is not showing signs of breastfeeding well.

You will feel: your breast being pulled with no pain

You will hear: your baby swallowing (a quiet, exhaled kaa kaa kaa)

You will see:

A wide open mouth

Curled out lips

Chin pressed into your breast

Sucking and swallowing (Quick and shallow at the beginning and deep and slow as the breast milk starts to flow)

Mouth Openings

Pause when month is opened the widest. Your baby is drinking during this pause.

Mouth Closing

At all ages urine should be clear to pale yellow with almost no smell.

Baby’s Age

Wet Diapers Each Day

Stools Each Day

1 day old

At least 1 wet diaper (a wet diaper feels like at least 2 tablespoons or 30 ml of water poured on a dry diaper).

At least 1 – 2 sticky dark green/black stools (meconium).

2 days old

At least 2 wet diapers.

At least 1 – 2 sticky dark green/black stools (meconium).

3 days old

At least 3 heavy wet diapers (a heavy wet diaper feels like at least 3 tablespoons or 45 ml of water on a dry diaper).

3 or more brown/green/yellow stools.

4 days old

At least 4 heavy wet diapers.

3 or more brown/green/yellow stools.

5 – 6 days old

At least 6 heavy wet diapers.

3 or more large, soft, yellow, seedy stools (a large stool is the size of a quarter or larger).

Baby should not be passing any meconium at this age.

6 weeks – 6 months

At least 6 heavy wet diapers.

3 – 4 per day or 1 large, soft, yellow seedy stool per week.

After 6 weeks some breastfed babies may have 1 very large yellow stool every 1 – 7 days. This is normal as long as the stool is soft like toothpaste, or seedy, and watery, and your baby is healthy. It is also normal for some breastfed babies to have many stools each day.